Automatic signal



May 24 1927.

1,629,982 w. E. WULFHORST AUTOMATIC SIGNAL Filed July 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mma 2 WILLIAM pwunmonsT ATTO RN EY 1,629 982 May 1927' w. E. WULFHORST AUTOMATIC SIGNAL Filed July 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet //V\/'/V7OR' WILLIAH.E.MJLFHORST ATTO RN E Y Patented May 24, 1927. v I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

WILLIAM E. wnmirrons'r, or CINCINNATI, onro.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL.

Application filed July 1, 1924. Serial No. 723,493.

My invention relates to si 'nals particu and slidably mounted on the spindle wherelarly though not exclusively adapted for use by the position of the commutator is deon street cars. pendent upon the speed at which the spindle The objects of'my invention are to provide rotates, as by collar 14 of the governor means adapted to automatically signal pe1 moving inwardly or outwardly caused by sons behind street car that the car is rethe well known principles of centrifugal ducing its speed or that the car is traveling force of weights 16 of the governor exertforward Without immediate prospects of ing an outwardly pulling force when the stopping; and to provide means adapted to governor is rotated. Commutator 15 is 65 automaticallysignal persons behind a street preferably of non-conducting material cycar that a passenger within the car has lindrical in form and has electric conductpressed a usual button and conveyed his ein o, band around the central portion sire to the motorma-n to alight from the car thereof. Tension springl'? around spindle at the next stop, which signal is intended to 1 has ends 17 and 17, respectively, fixed 15 convey information to persons behind the to collars 13 and 14-. of the governor wherestreet car that the car is about to slackeu by collar 14: is adapted to slide longitudi its speed and stop. nally on spindle 1 and away from collar 13 My invention consists inproviding means when the spindle is not rotating or the adapted to automatically connect and diS- rotatable speed of the spindle is slackened 75 connect electric circuits for the purpose of sufliciently to permit the tension force of illuminating signals intended to convey inspring 17 to overcome the centrifugal force formation regarding the immediate moveofweights16. ment of the street car upon which said sig- Terminals 18and 18. suitably fixed adjanalsare displayed. 'cent commutator 15. and spaced apart therelvly invention further consists in the comfrom, are adapted to becontactcd by electric binatiom location and arrangement of parts conducting band 15'. Terminal 18 is conas herein specified and claimed. nected with green lamp 19 by conductor 20. In the drawings: 1 Conductor 21 connects terminal 18 with Fig. 1 is a. partial rear elevation of a street terminal 22 adjacent commutator 23 and 85 car showing my inventionembodied thereoppositely disposed from terminal 22 conon: nected to knife switch 25 by conductor 41 Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section of a and main conductor 24. .The knifeswitch street car showing my diagrammatical dishas connection with suitable outside source closure of my invention embodied therein; of electric current through conductors 25 and and 25 such as trolley wires (not/shown). Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view showing Commutator 23 has electric conducting the electric connections and means for autoband 26 therearound and adapted to be conmatic'ally making and breaking said connectacted simultaneously by terminals 22 and tions. 22. Bar 27 positioned within solenoid 28 40 In the preferred construction of my inhas its inner end fixed to commutator 23 for vention, I provide spindle 1 journaled in the purpose of automatically making and bearings 2 and 3 suitably fixed to frame 4 breaking electric contact of terminals 22 of street car 5. Shoulders 6 and 7, respecand 22 with band 26 of the commutator d8? tively, of the spindle are adapted to engage pending upon the amount of current fiow- 4 the inner sides of bearings 2 and S for the ing through the solenoid. Conductor 29 purpose of retaining the spindle against combinedly connected to green lamp 19 and longitudinal movement relative to the bearto knife switch 25 (through main conductor ingrs. Belt 8 is combinedly received around 30) comprises the remainder ofuthe green end 9 of'spindle 1 and axle 10 of wheel 11 lamp electric circuit, theoperation of which 9 50 of street car 5whereby the spindle is adaptwill hereinafter be explained.

ed to be rotated at a speed directly de- Oppositely disposed terminals 31 and 31 pendent upon the velocity of the street car. adjacent commutator 15 are adapted to con- The overnor 12 has collar 13 fixed to tact conducting band 15 and are respectivespindle 1 adjacent bearing 2. Collar 14 of 1y connected to conductor 32 (connected to 119 55 the governor is slidably mounted on the red lamp 33) and main conductor 30 (conspindle and has commutator 15 fixed thereto nected to main conductor 30). The electric circuit of the red lamp is completed by conductor 34 being connected to main conductor 24.

The electric circuit of caution lamp35 comprises conductor 36 combinedly connected to the lamp and main conductor 30 conductor 37 combinedly connected to the lamp and terminal 38, conducting band 26, terminal 38, conductor 41, conductor 41 and main conductor 24. Conducting band 26 is adapted to simultaneously contact terminals 38 and 38 caused by bar 39 within solenoid 40 having one end fixed to commutator 23 whereby the caution lamp circuit is automatically completed and continues from terminal 38 to conductor 41 combinedly connected to conductor 41 (connected to terminal 38) and main conductor 34.

The flow of electric current through solenoid 40 by which magnetic lines of force are set up and causes bar within the solenoid to move inwardly tor the purpose of connecting conducting band 26 with terminals 38 and 38' for completing the electric circuit of caution lamp 35, is caused by manual operaiion of press button 42 which simultaneously actuates buzzer 43 advantageously posit-ioned for signaling the motorman of street car 5 that a passenger within the car has expressed his desire to alight from the street car at the next stop. Electric current flowing from main conductor 24 through primary coil 44 of transformer 45 induces current in secondary coil 46 at an increased or reduced voltage dependent upon the winding of the transformer. For illustrative purposes main conductor 24 is shown as a 110 volt line andthe current induced in secondary coil 46 preferably is 6 volts for the purpose of actuating buzzer 43. The electric circuit completed by manually pressing or operating button 42 comprises sec ondary coil 46, conductor 46, conductor48. press button 42, conductor -12. buzzer 43, conductor 43", and conductor 50.

As; heretofore explained, one of the objects o't' appli "ants invention is to provide means adapted to signal persons behind a street car that the car is about to stop when a person within the car presses button 42, whereby caution lamp 35 is caused to light thereby performing its intended function of signaling persons behind streetcar 5 that the car is about to stop. Caution lamp 35 may be of any suitable color and the indicia or character designations may be illuminat ed by it forthe'purposes intended.

lVhen street car 5 has sufficiently reduced its velocity (after button 42 is pressed).'to permit the tension in spring 17 around spindle 1 to'overcome the centrifugal force of rotating weights 16ot governor 12, collar 14 slidably mounted onspindle 1 and having commutator '15'fiXed thereto. is slidlongitudinally on the spindle thereby contacting terminals 47 and 47 (positioned intermediate terminals 18. 18 and 31 and 3 respectively. and oppositely (llSPUlzQzl relative to commutator 15) with conducting band 15 of commutator 15 whereby an electric circuit is completed and which comprises conductors 4S and 49 (respectively fixed to terminals 4.7 and 47) secondarv coil -16, conductors 50 and 51 and solenoid 29., whereby the magnetic lines oi force set up in the solenoid are sutlicient to draw bar 27 outwardly thereby disconnecting terminals 33 and 38 from comlucting band 2(3 of commutator 23, and connecting conducting band 26 with terminals 22 and 22. During, the last operation and when bar 27 is drawn inwardly and disconnects conducting band it; from terminals 38 and 3S, caution lamp 35 is extinguished. As the car continues to slacken its velocity, governor 12 gradually closes and slides conduc ing band 15 of commutator 15 into contact with terminal-: 31' and 31 thereby cmi'il'ileting the electric circuit, heretofore explained, for lighting stop or red lamp It is apparent that the distance from terminals 47 and 47, respectively. to terminals 31 and 31 may be varied for the purpose o'l. causing red lamp 33 to light. almost instantly or a considerable period of time after caution lamp 35 is txiinguished.

Red lamp 33 is adapted to light during the latter portion of the time the car is stopping and while it is at a siandstill. lVhen street car 5 starts rearward or forward movementtrom a standstill, beit 8 combinedly received by spindle 1 and axle 1t). imparts rotary movement to the spindle thereby causing governor 12 to grzu'lually open, and conducting band 15 of commutator 15 to slide from contact with terminals 31 and 31 thereby breaking the electric circuit of lamp 35 and extinguishing the lamp. As the velocity of the car increases, coinmutator 15 is caused to slide a distance tarther dependent upon the speed oi 'the car. until conducting band 15 contacts terminal; 47 and47 whereby, through the electric circuitheretotore explained. magnetic lines of force are set up in solenoid 28 thereby cansing bar 27 to drawconducting band 26 of commutator 23 in contact with terminms and 22, which partly complees: the electric circuit of green lamp 19. Further increased velocity of the street car ca uses the governor to (YOHtlIILIC to open and slide commutator 15 on spindle 1 until conductive band 1?. contacts terminals 18 and 18 thereby (21115?- ing green-lamp 19 to light by completing the electric circuit heretofore explained.

Green lamp 19 remains lighted continuously during the time street car 5 is traveling forward at full speed without immediate prospects of stopping, and when a passenger within the street car, presses a usual lamp 19 is lighted.

lamp 33 and caution lamp 35' may be positioned at'any advantageous and desirable" The lam )5 ma 7 be 'varioush arran 'ed PD button 42 for the purpose of signaling the niotorman that it is the passengers desire to alight at the next stop, green lamp 19 is immediately extinguished and caution lamp is caused to light, thereby signaling persons behind the street car that the car is about to slaclren its speed and stop." When the velocity of the'car is slaclrenedto a pre determined speed, caution lamp 35 is e);-

tinguished and red lamp 33 is lighted. to warn persons bGlllllCl the car that the car is moving at low velocity and is coming to a position, and in any preferred arrangement on the rear end 52 of street car 5. In Fig. 1 anarangement oi the lamps is shown in which green lamp 19 is'positirmed intermediate red lamp S3 and caution lamp 35.

secured to the streetcar in any suitable manner. i c

The operations of my invention are auto inatic and it is apparent that I have invented a practical, eiiicient and highly desirable device for the purposes lntended.

lVhile I have shown and described my in-,

vention as embodied in a street car, my automatie signalsma-y be incorporated in'the construction of other and all types of vehieles. In some cases slight modifications of the wiring and construction may be necessary.

An advantage of my inventimi is in the" provision of an automatic signal device adapted to impart knowledge to persons behind the moving street car or automobile having my invention embodied therein, that the vehicle moving "forward withoutimmediate prospects of slacking its velocity or that it is slacking its velocity for the purpose of stopping or that it is almost stopped or that it is at a complete standstill At this 7 day and age of modern achievement and when the streets of our cities are overcrowded with rapidly moving vehicles, my auto matic signaling device is adapted to greatly facilitate the movement of traflie as wellwas greatly reduce the chances of collisionand accident as the result of vehicles suddenly stopping without warning to persons in the rear;

While I have chosen to illustrate the form and construction of my invention as herein set forth, I do not include the various forms of modification in which my invention may be incorporated. The illustrations and explanations herein are made merely for the purpose of showing a form of construction an d by which my invention may be carried into effect; I My invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction, hereinafter claimed, it being understood that changes 1n the precise enilbodnnent of the invention herein d1s- I closed can vbe made within the scopeoili what is claimed withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit oi: the invention.

W hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car, a plurality of signal lamps of dillercnt colors, a press button in said car,

means adapted to automatically light one of said lamps when said button is pressed and means ad: ited to automatically extin- 'sh said lighted lamp andlight another. of said lamps when the velocity of said car is slackened, and to permit said'last lamp to he lighted continuously during the time said car is at a standstill and means arilapted to automatically extinguish said last lamp and light another of said lamps when said car has attained a predetermined rate ot'fvelocity.

'2. In a car, a safety lamp, a caution lamp and a danger lamp, manual operative means in saidcar adapted to be actuated by apassenger for signaling the molorman oi said car to stop, ineansadapted to automatically light said caution lamp when said passenger operates said manual operative means, and means anapted to automatically extinguish said caution lamp and light said danger lamp when said car has slaekencd its velocity and adapted to extinguish said dan er lamp and light said satiety lamp when sai car has attained a predetermined rate of velocity.

In combination with a vehicle. a safety signal, a caution signal and a dangersignal, a spindle rotatably connected to a rotatable part of said vehicle, contact slidably mounted. on said spindle, a governor fixed to said spindle and having an arm connected to said Contact, a pair of safety terminals, a pair of caution terminals and a pair of danger terminals, respectively, adapted to be contacted by said contact, a pair of solenoids, a bar within each of said solenoids and having a conducting member connected to the adjacent ends of said bars, a pair of caution terminals and a pair of safety circnit terminals, respectively, adapted to be contacted by said conducting member, and manual operative means adapted to com plete an electric circuit whereby one of said solenoids is adaptedto draw one of said bars and disengage said safety circuit terminals and simultaneously electrically contact said caution terminals whereby said caution signal is adapted to be illuminated.

i. In combination with a vehicle, a safety signal, a caution signal and a danger signal,

a spindle rotatably connected to a rotatable part of said vehicle, and having a spring therearound, a contact slidably mounted on said spindle, a governor fixed to said spindle and having an arm connected to said contact, a pair of safety terminals, a pair of caution terminals and a pair of danger terminals, respectively, adapted to be contacted by said contact, a pair of solenoids, a bar within each of said solenoids and having a conducting member connected to the ad acent ends of said bars, a pair of solenoid terminals and a pair of safety circuit termi-' nals, respectively, adapted to be contacted by said conducting member, manual operative means adapted to complete an electric circuit whereby one of said solenoids is adapted to draw one of said bars and disengage said safety circuit terminals and simultane 'ously' electrically contact said caution terminals whereby said caution signal is adapted to be illuminatec, said spring adapted to close said governor when the speed of said car is reduced whereby said contact is adapted to form electrical contact with said solenoid terminals whereby an electric circuit is completed and the other of said bars is drawn inwardly and said conducting and in engagement with said governor, apair of safety terminals, a pair of solenoid terminals and a pair of danger terminals,

respectively, adapted to be contacted by said contact, a pair of solenoids, a. pair of bars within said solenoids, respectively, and having a conducting member connectedto the adjacent ends of said bars, a pair of caution terminals and a pair of safety circuit terminals respectively adapted to be contacted by said conducting member, manual operative means adapted to complete an electric circuit whereby one of said solenoids is adapted to draw said bars and disengage said conducting member from said safety circuit terminals and simultaneously electrically contact said caution terminals whereby said caution signal is adapted to be illuminated, said spring adapted to close said govcrmn' when the speed of said car is reduced whereby said contact is adapted to form electri'al contact with said solenoid terminals whereby an electric circuit is completed through the other of said solenoids whereby said bars are drawn inwardly and said conducting member forms electrical contactwith said safety signal circuit terminals and as the speed of said car is further reduced said governor is adapted to further close whereby said contact engages said danger terminals and said danger signal is illuminated.

6. In a car, a pluralityot signal lamps of different colors, a press button in said car, means adapted to automatically extinguish one of said lamps when said but ton is pressed and to automatically light another of said lamps and means adapted to automatically extinguish said last lamp and light another of said lamps when the velocity of said car is slackencd.

YVILLIAM E. XVULFHORST. 

